Native Place is the name of our holiday home in the hills of western India. It is also home to Nirvana Adventures, a paragliding school, run by my husband. My gardening adventure began in 2003 when we finished building Native Place and moved in. It is an all consuming hobby that I juggle along with paragliding on weekends. During the week I’m back in the city and gardening online

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Announcing the arrival of the Malabar whistling Thrush in the Native Place Garden

Folks – they have arrived! We spotted a pair last week scouting around the Nirvana Cottage Wing for a
nesting space. Heard the predawn song a few days ago a sweet whistling and had
an easy spotting soon after. Watched the pair happily at work – seems like they
too are happy to be back (they have been nesting here for a few years now) We
will now have the pleasure of watching them as they select a nesting spot and
build their nest, bring new chicks into he world and then work hard together to
feed the young chicks who have voracious appetites.

Ah – so looking forward to this ! J

Also known
as the ‘Whistling
Schoolboy’for the
whistling calls that they make at dawn -
a slow soft mellifluous call with a sense of aimlessness about it. Sounds like a carefree schoolboy whistling to
himself as he strolls along.

The species is said to be resident in the Western Ghats although
it visits the Native Place Garden to breed and raise its young. I have read that they can be spotted near rocky streams and in
riverine habitats either in the shady undergrowth or in a really difficult to spot location and are usually most active at early dawn
or dusk making them difficult to photograph

This large thrush appears blackish with shiny patches of blue
on the forehead and shoulders. It is omnivorous, eating a wide range of insects. crabs, frogs, earthworms and berries.

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About Me

I have had an affinity for trees for as long as I can remember. In 2003 Native Place our guesthouse in the hills of western India was completed and that’s when i began hands on gardening.
My brand of gardening is more visualizing mood and creating joyful spaces.
Don’t get me wrong I love getting my hands dirty. I also talk to my plants – no nonsense straight talk is what I call it and I think they like it.
Honestly I don’t see myself as having green fingers and definitely have a long way to go in strict gardening terms but if it involves walking up or down a garden path I am up for it.